How Food Traditions Can Help Achieve Global Goals

By, Nurhanis Nabila

Food isn’t just about filling bellies; it’s about culture, creativity, and sometimes even about solving big problems like food security. Ending hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture are the two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and Malaysia’s culinary traditions, spiced with a dash of global inspiration, serve up some useful means of achieving these goals.

Malaysia’s food culture offers insightful examples of sustainability. For example, nasi lemak highlights readily available and environmentally friendly local ingredients like pandan leaves and coconut milk. Similarly, traditional food markets focus on fresh, locally sourced produce, reducing the need and reliance for processed, imported goods that could contribute to environmental stress.

This is in line with SDG 12 that focuses on ‘responsible consumption and production’, encouraging the efficient use of resources and minimizing waste. Malaysia’s creative use of ingredients demonstrates how culinary traditions can support sustainable living, much as Italy’s cucina povera, which transforms leftovers into treasured dishes.

Undeniably, culinary traditions across the globe actually support sustainability. For instance, Japan’s focus and emphasis on seasonal fish like tuna somehow reflects Malaysia’s respect for seasonal produce, demonstrating that eating in harmony with nature supports SDG 13 (Climate Action). Besides, urban farming efforts in cities like Singapore and New York present effective solutions for food security, which is a core objective of SDG 2. Expanding these types of projects in Malaysia could ensure fresh, locally grown food while reducing the reliance on imported goods. 

Here’s how culinary traditions can contribute to achieving the SDGs: 

Cut Food Waste: Make sure to use every part of an ingredient, drawing inspiration from dishes that transform leftovers into new meals (e.g.: Cucina povera).

Urban Agriculture: Create city-based food systems to improve access to fresh, sustainable produce.

Promote Local ingredients: Using local produce in traditional recipes lowers lowers food miles and simultaneously boosts local economy.

This is a call to action from the kitchen: eat local, think global, and cook for a better future!***